Aeroplane



-48 SR j 2M f ms FIP-B301 #3R` 1,533,553

April 14, 1925. 1 535 553 J. D. HORNBUCKLE. SR

AEROPLANB Filed Nov. J7, 1.924

4 2# M E l Flaunea E ATTORNEY 244. AtHUNAUIlU Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES JAMES D. HORNBUCKLE, SR., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

AEROPLANE.

Application led November 17, 1924. Serial No. 750,321.

To all fwho/m. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES D. HoRN- BUCKLE, Sr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to my copending application filed Dec. 3, 1923, Serial No. 678,315.

It is one object of my invention to provide an aeroplane that will occupy but small space; that can be raised or lowered along a vertical axis; that cannot fall into a tail spin or a nose spin; that provides a covered compartment for the operator; and that is not easily deflected from its normal direction of movement.

It is another object of the invention to provide an aeroplane that is provided with a combination plane and gas container movable as a unit for controlling the direction of movement of the aeroplane relative to a horizontal plane; and one in which the plane is provided with means for confining and directing the air flo-w from thereunder.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates a rectangular framework of light material covered with a light fabric 2 and having its upward forward portion sloping as at 3.

Securely mounted upon each side of frame 1 and extending a distance above its upper edge, are bars 4 connected by a revoluble shaft 5 and forming a rigid support for said shaft midway the length of frame 1.

Mounted on shaft 5 to rock therewith is a plane 6 having side pieces 7 mounted thereon, the plane 6 being somewhat longer and wider than frame 1, and the front and rear ends offering no obstruction to the passage of air thereunder. To each corner of plane 6 is attached a cable as indicated at 8-8 and Sa-Sa, these cables passing over their respective pulleys 9--9` and .9a-F to a control lever 10 pivotally mounted at 11 on frame 1. It is obvious that' a forward movement oflever 10 will tilt the forward end of the plane 6 upwardly, and a backward Inovement of the same will reverse the position of the plane 6 to any desired angle.

At 12 is indicated a rudder pivotally mounted at 13 on frame 1 and controlled afl by means of cables 1l--14"L attached thereto and passing over their respective pulleys 15--15a to control lever 10. A lateral movement of lever 10 will swing the rudder 12 to the right or left as desired.

At 16 are twin propellers mounted on shafts 17 in bearings 18 arran ed at the bottom of sloping portion 3 and designed to pass the air over frame 1 2 and under plane 6. These propellers are driven by means of gear and shaft connection 19 to engine 20, clutches 21-22 being inserted between each propeller and the engine drive. By means of this construction either propeller may be operated at will, either independently of or in conjunction with the other.

The propellers are formed with curved blades 23 and a ange 24 located on the inner edge of the blade so that air caught by the blade will be caught also by the flange and thrown rearwardly of said propeller.

A pair of similar propellers 25-25 and 25a-25a are arranged upon vertical shafts 26-26 and 26a- 26a upon opposite sides of frame 1--2 and above the plane thereof as shown. These propellers are similar in construction toI propellers 16 and are operated in any suitable manner as by gear and shaft connections 27-27a to engine 20, a clutch being inserted in said connections as at 28.

It may be readily seen from the foregoing description that the propellers 16 may be operated together or independently by operating clutches 21-22, and the side propellers may be thrown into or out of action by clutch 28.

It may be readily seen from the foregoing description that the construction of the plane 6 is such that while it may be tilted as desired the side pieces 7 prevent the air from being carried 0H sideways and confines it to the under side of the plane during its passage thereby. The inside flanges on the. pro-peller blades in a similar manner coniine the direction of flow of the air in such a nia-nner as to secure the greatest power therefrom.

Upon plane 6 is arranged a gas bag 29 which when filled with a suitable gas lighter than air substantially osets the weight of the framework 1-2 and parts carried thereby, -and consequently assists in effecting a vertical movement in ascending or descending, besides stabilizing'the whole structure.

llO

It is to be understood, of course, that While I have herein shown and described one speciiio embodiment of my invention,

changes in form, Construction, proportions,

5 and method of operation may loe made Within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim: y

An aeroplane comprising a` housing for the operator thereof, a standard rising from 10 each side of said housing midway its length,

a plane pivotally mounted on said standards and normally lying in a horizontal plane and having depending side edges, means for tilting said plane on its pivot, motor operated propellers mounted upon horizontal shafts at one end of said housing, and motor operated propellers mounted upon vertical shafts on each side of said housing and extending therealoove.

JAMES D. HORNBUCKLE, SR. 

